Veronica POV
As we stepped into the courtroom, I sat down on my front row seat nervously awaiting the judges entrance. I fidgeted with my thumbs my mother looking at me sympathetically. I heard the door open and the judge walked in. It took forever for him to get up the straps and sit on his pedestal, "All rise." He ordered. I rose immediately pushing my chair so far back it hit the woman beside me. I looked over at Reggie and I noticed his feet trembling as he got up. In fact his own lawyer had to help him up because of how nervous he is, "Has the jury reached a verdict?" He asked, I looked over at Betty who had her fists clenched, "We have your honour." A woman with long curly hair got up tucking her curls behind her ears. "In the case of the commonwealth vs Reginald Mantle we find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree." She said, "No!" Mrs Mantle cried as Mr Mantle held onto her. "Ok so Mr Mantle. You will be sent to Shankshore prison where your sentence of 68 years in prison will start immediately." The judge said banging on the table with his gavel indicating that the two police officers should arrest him. As two police men paced beside Reggie and put handcuffs around his hands I felt my heart almost rip out of my chest. I looked over at Betty who couldn't even make eye contact. As Reggie was taken out of the courtroom it was a steady silence. The only thing I could hear was Mrs Mantle crying hysterically. I felt my mom's tender hand on my back and my dad hung his head. The car journey home was silent. "I'm sorry mija I know you loved him." Dad finally said, "Didn't you love that ginger boy?" Hermosa said. I glared at her lack of tact, normally I would come up with a smart ass remark but I couldn't even speak. My boyfriend killed one of my friends. How could I trust anyone anymore? "Do you want to get Pops-." Before dad could even finish his sentence, "How could you eat at a time like this!" I snapped. I saw all 3 of them jump slightly. Once Smithers pulled up I slammed the limo door shut and ran to my bedroom. I sobbed into my lilac covers. 68 years? Really.

Betty POV
After the sentencing I thought it was best to keep my distance from everyone. Even Archie. "Aah Betty long time no see!" Dr Lopez said. "I needed someone to talk to." I sighed. She nodded obviously hearing about the trial and invited me into her room. "So I heard. Reggie Mantle. I admit that came out as quite a shocker." She said tucking her hair behind her ears. "I know, I'm sorry I haven't visited or anything I was just so caught up with the trial and." I swallowed barely able to get a breath in. "No worries. So where were we last time?" She asked. "Dr Lopez I think I'm doing something terrible to Jughead." I sighed sinking down in my seat. "How?" She asked. "Well there's this boy...Archie Andrews. Back in sophomore year I was head over heels in love with him but he didn't feel the same way. We've been best friends since we were 4 and our windows literally face one another. So I decided to move on with Jughead and our relationship was everything I've ever wanted but these things with Archie just started...happening and Jughead was jealous of our relationship." I explained as she took down notes. "And when Jughead was murdered...our relationship escalated even further but I feel as if...I'm betraying Jughead." I sighed. "Jughead would've wanted you to move on." Dr Lopez nodded, "Not with Archie." I said remembering Veronica said the exact same thing, "Escalated how so?" Dr Lopez asked. "I don't know, we just had an understanding for one another." I said, "Have you ever thought to consider maybe it was Archie who was jealous of your relationship?" Dr Lopez asked. "No- no way! I mean he rejected me sophomore year and-." Then it hit me. Every time Jughead and I broke up or had an argument, things with Archie started happening. Like our first kiss. "But he was with Veronica at the time. So he had a lover of his own." I challenged. "What I think Betty, is you need to speak to Jughead." She said. I nodded in agreement thanking her. I drove to the cemetery and walked over to Jughead's grave. Lots of vibrant flowers were put on his grave but Jughead wasn't a flower person. I sat beside his headstone. "I'm sorry you haven't seen much of me Jug." I said gulping. "I'm here to tell you that...I think I...I think I love Archie. I've always loved you but I've never had the time to get over Archie and when you...died all these old feelings just keep coming back. I love you Jughead but I need to let you go. You can't come back, not now, not ever and I need a life of my own. I just want your blessing." I said stroking the dirt on his grave. I got up and smoothed out my crumpled skirt. Just one more stop.

Archie POV
"You were great mom." I smiled at her whilst she sipped her wine. "Reggie is a great kid I don't know why he would do something like that." Mom shook her head. I shrugged. Mom's phone pinged. "Oh it's Brooke she wants to take me out for a celebratory dinner for winning the trial." Mom said, "Hardly winning." I said miserably, "I know. I can stay here if you want." Mom said looking at me sympathetically. "No- I mean you should totally go with...Brooke." I said bitterly. "Archie you are ok with me and Brooke?" Mom asked, "Yeah I mean...it was unexpected and not to be that guy mom but...what about dad?" I asked my voice thickening. She sighed. "I loved your dad dearly and I always will. It's just...I need to move on from all this pain and grief." She said. I nodded as she planted a kiss on the top of my head. "I'll be back by 12." She smiled ruffling my hair and heading out. Once she left I sighed. The house was so silent, I could hear the clock ticking. I grabbed a bottle of beer and cracked it open. I was just trying to get my mind off the trial, Jughead, Betty everything but that didn't help because I heard the doorbell ring. I sighed walking to the door figuring my mom left her purse. It was Betty. To my surprise she grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me into a deep kiss. Her lips were soft but I didn't know she would be so rough. She pounced on me and I carried her to my room. I rolled onto the bed and she climbed on top of me. Undoing my buttons desperately. I unzipped her black dress slowly. I took a brief look at her examining her beauty. I went in for an even deeper embrace my hands running up and down her waist. All this happened in the space of one minute. She pulled away to take a breath, "I love you." She whispered. I sat up shocked. I did not expect that to say the least. She rolled off me sitting up, "Uh I-." She said getting up. I grabbed her by her wrist spinning her round so she can face me, "I love you too." I smiled. Finally, those three words and eight letters had a meaning. It felt right to hear the word 'love' roll off my tongue. It felt even more amazing in Betty's embrace. It was everything I've ever craved ever since that night in sophomore year. She was just so beautiful. She pulled away from me panting, "What is it?" I asked, "You never told me why...you rejected me that night." She said remembering that day at the hospital, "Betty you are so perfect and I meant every word. I was never good enough for you. I was just an immature boy who wanted to smash the hot cheerleaders, get wasted and live a reckless life but when Veronica came everything just changed. I've always loved you Betty and I still do...I wanted to wait for you. You were worth the wait." I said caressing her cheek, "Were you ever jealous of Jughead and I?" She asked me. "Hell yeah! Even though I had Veronica our relationship was just sex. I didn't feel the same way, I loved her but I wasn't in love with her. I was jealous of you and Jughead because he seemed to give you everything you've ever wanted but I had to convince myself I was doing the right thing." I said. She nodded smiling as she put her soft hands on my cheeks, "Can I ask you a question now?" I asked, she nodded again, "Where is this all coming from? I thought you wanted to wait until this whole thing is over. I didn't realise you wanted it the day the trial was over." I said, "Because...I thought I was betraying Jughead by being with you but I spoke to my therapist and to Jughead and Dr Lopez is right. He wants to see me happy and I'm happy when I'm with you and Jughead would've wanted that." She said. I smiled at her, kissing her again. I thought of this moment as a dream of mine. Her soft hands pressed against my abdomen. She was just everything I've ever wanted. I was so lost in her embrace I didn't even notice my mom came home. Was it twelve already? Betty sprung up, "She can't see me like this!" Betty hissed. "Arch?" Mom asked. "Yeah just a second." I said scanning the room for a place to hide but mom walked in, "Well,well, well." She smiled, "Oh uh-." I stammered, "Hi Mrs Andrews." Betty said trying to cover up her bra, "I'll get out of your hair." She winked heading out. Betty collapsed back in my bed beside my climbing on top of me. Hands down the best night of my life.